A MODERN MAN’S GUIDE TO TOOLS, THE SCREWDRIVER

INTRODUCTION:

Men used to construct their own homes, fix their own toilets, install their own sprinkler systems,
and sport ironic mustaches a few decades ago. Unfortunately, many of us have forgotten how to
use these DIY tools since they are not immediately necessary. Our new series will show you how
to choose and utilize the ideal tool for whatever task you need to complete.
Despite being one of the simplest tools, it’s also one of the easiest to misuse—no pun intended.
For our purposes, a screwdriver is a basic metal rod with a head form that fits inside its
counterpart, the screw (or bolt). This sets it apart from the Wrench category, where the tool
encircles its mate.
The relationship between the screwdriver and its counterpart is “complex,” just like with
everything else that screws. To extend the metaphor even further, if the two components do not
work well together, the one doing the screwing may irreparably harm the person being screwed.
Let’s state the obvious. There are several types and sizes of screws and screwdrivers. Phillips
head and slot head are the two most used varieties in the US. The less popular Torx or star head,
which has a nice six-pointed star form and is used for tightening things down, is another option.
There are others, but let’s keep things simple.
The Allen wrench is like the little sister. Although it has the moniker of a wrench, it also
functions somewhat like a screwdriver. It shares some of the drawbacks of other screwdrivers as
well as the criteria of the tool fitting within the counterpart. Even an Allen-head screwdriver is
available. However, it is more frequently (and technically) a wrench.

Types of common screw drives

•  A slot head
•  Phillips snout
• Allen key
• Drive torque
• Robertson

The Alternative Screwdriver

About the drink: According to mythology, American oil workers in Saudi Arabia (or, depending
on your ethnic pride, Siberian, Welsh, or Irish coal miners) put vodka into cans of frozen orange
juice and stirred them together with a screwdriver. The name’s origin.
A screwdriver will likely be required for:
 Computers and handheld electronics
 Electrical outlets, light switches, and cover plates for wall sockets
 Changing your car’s hoses or air filter
 Fixtures for furniture (cabinet & dresser knobs)

The screwdriver method

The use of the proper size screwdriver is the most crucial approach. While the exact size of screws is
unknown, there are four standard Phillips screwdriver sizes, ranging from #0 to #4, with #0
being the smallest. The most popular sizes are #2 and #1, with #2 being for conventional screw
sizes and #1 being for “miniature.” The jeweler-size screws are the next item. Even easier, the
blades of slot head screwdrivers are measured in fractions of an inch. The idea is that you should
check that the screwdriver head fits tightly before going all Bruce Willis on a screw.

Pitfalls with Screwdrivers

The biggest risk of screw driving is stripping the screw head (new word; you heard it here first).
Incorrect screw sizing or excessive tightening can harm the screw and render it useless.
As with any pointed object, cutting yourself, sticking your eye out, and other risks exist. Your
mother probably told you about this. Be cautious. Utilize the screwdriver for what it was
designed to do: screw things. Additionally, avoid bleeding on this post if you do. We won’t do
any cleanup.